Iran’s Anti-US ICJ Lawsuit Aimed at Countering Washington’s Pressure

Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Abbas Araqchi said on Wednesday Iran’s lawsuit is meant to prove the US position is illegitimate.

“We did not lodge our complaint to get the US condemned and then push it to do something. This is meant to show the legitimacy of Iran [position] to the international community. The Islamic Republic is committed to its obligations and the wrongdoer is the US,” ISNA quoted him as saying.

The US pulled out of the 2015 nuclear deal early May, and it has been restoring sanctions suspended under the accord afterwards.

Iran has filed a lawsuit with the ICJ claiming the US return of sanctions violates the 1955 Treaty of Amity, Economic Relations and Consular Rights between the two countries.

The ICJ, which is based in The Hague and is also known as the World Court, is the United Nations’ tribunal for resolving international disputes.

Although the ICJ’s decisions are binding, it has no power to enforce them, and countries, including the US, have occasionally ignored them.

 

US Not to Abide by ICJ Ruling

Araqchi said Iran aims to counter the increasingly hostile moves of the US and put up defence against the US pressure.

“A country like the US cannot be sentenced and forced to abide by the judgement, but pressures [caused by the sentence] will be effective,” he said.

Beside returning sanctions, Washington is also working to hamper Iran’s trade with Europe and Asia and push Iran’s oil costumers to cut down to zero their purchases.

The first hearing session in the case was held on Monday. The tribunal is expected to issue its verdicts in a few weeks.